Book description
Thinking about cultural differences around the world isn't just an
intellectual exercise for managers working in an increasingly global
environment. Being able to communicate effectively across cultural
differences, understanding how to negotiate complex social situations,
and being familiar with the customs and norms of many cultures are
important skills in organizations today. Perhaps even more important
than possessing those essential pieces of cultural knowledge is the
skill of cultural adaptability-the willingness and ability to recognize,
understand, and work effectively across cultural differences.
Proficiency in cultural adaptability helps contemporary managers to
build the relationships needed to achieve results in today's global
organizations, especially when those relationships are forged across
borders and cultures. It enables them to interact effectively with
people different from themselves, whether these people work on the next
floor or on the other side of the world.
This series of guidebooks draws on the practical
knowledge that the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has
generated, since its inception in 1970, through its research and
educational activity conducted in partnership with hundreds of
thousands of managers and executives. Much of this knowledge is
shared-in a way that is distinct from the typical university
department, professional association, or consultancy. CCL is not
simply a collection of individual experts, although the individual
credentials of its staff are impressive; rather it is a community,
with its members holding certain principles in common and working
together to understand and generate practical responses to today's
leadership and organizational challenges.
The purpose of the
series is to provide managers with specific advice on how to complete
a developmental task or solve a leadership challenge. In doing that,
the series carries out CCL's mission to advance the understanding,
practice, and development of leadership for the benefit of society worldwide.
Jennifer J. Deal is a research scientist at CCL with interests
in global and generational issues of leadership. She is the author and
coauthor of several works related to executive selection, global
management, and other issues. She holds a Ph. D. degree in
industrial/organizational psychology from The Ohio State University.
Don W. Prince is manager of the Leadership Development Program
(LDP) at CCL's campus in Brussels, Belgium. He is associated with
CCL's Global Initiatives group, assisting in the facilitation of
internal communications about CCL's global work. Don has extensive
international travel experience, having conducted business or
executive training in sixteen countries. He holds degrees from the
University of North Texas and Southwestern Seminary.
